Mommy went to this place called Home Depot late yesterday and brought home this big, big, big box. She opened it up and inside was this big metal object with blades that turn around and around inside this cage-like thing. She told me it was a "20 inch high felocity fan". I wanted so much to help her assemble the thing, but she wouldn't let me do it. I know I kept getting in her way and she kept saying, "No Merl, you have to go". She finally put the thing together and turned it on to "1" speed. I watched in awe as Bail's fur blew all around and he was 10 feet away from it. She tried it faster and then everybody backed up. She said, "we only need no. 1 speed around here."

Now, here's the thrilling part: Bail and I got to play in the box off and on all night long. We had a blast! He would get inside and I would spring on the outside and then we would trade places. Sampy didn't want any part of it and stayed in the living room corner next to the stereo.

When we weren't playing in the box we slept with Mommy on the couch. There was another one of those thunder storms that lasted over four hours. She felt safer sleeping in the living room because the drapes block out some of the lightning whereas the lacey curtains upstairs don't.

Mommy was rinsing out cammie's cat dishes this morning (water was coming out of the faucet in a large stream). I was on one side of the sink and wanted to get to the other side without jumping down. Mommy was in the way so I jumped over the sink to the other side. I JUMPED OVER NIAGARA FALLS TODAY!

That was fun! Mommy was shocked to see a flying kitten going over her arms and the sink.

Speaking of water, it is raining now and it feels good that it's not terribly hot like all last week. I am currently sitting in the computer room window while it is open. The rain isn't coming in yet. I like to watch water no mater where it comes from . . . just don't put me in it for a bath!

As Mommy got this far, there was a loud clap of thunder, I jumped out of the window, and she had to shut it and turn off the computer. She put my entry into draft form to do later.

Later: I'm playing with the streamers on a stick while I finish dictating. Yeh, I'm a multi-tasker kitty!

While the storm was going on, I took a little nap and so did my brothers.

My dearest Merlin, you are such a lover-boy! You are all purrs, licks and sweet little "baby breeps" You are running close with Sampy as the most affectonate cat I have ever owned. You love to cuddle, lick, knead and have the most raucus of all purrs in the cat world. Your coat is a mystery of textures and it keeps me guessing as to your gene pool. Maine Coon 1/2, but the other part is a black shorthair, but breed unknown. You're definitely a different kind of kitty and a good fly hunter too.

Yes, it is and I mean it. TGIF!! Mommy will be home part of tomorrow and can stay up later tonight and will be home all day Sunday. I love weekends!

It's a rather lazzzzzzy Friday also. My two brothers are sleeping in the hallway. I don't know if they are up to dictating anything tonight.

Earlier, I jumped on top of the chest of drawers in the computer room and rubbed against a music box of Mommy's. It's a cat jack-in-the-box music box and when I rubbed against it, the music started playing. It woke up my two sleepy brothers who were sleeping in the same room. They don't like music boxes. The look on Bail's face was priceless . . . too bad Mommy didn't take his picture.

1. When Mommy massages my fur in the opposite direction. This gets my purr going full throttle and then I give her sandpaper kisses;
2. Salmon, of course;
3. Playing soccer with a cereal boxtop. I like this better than those toy mice;
4. Jumping on Bail;
5. Chasing Sampy;
6. Watching Mommy change our water dishes;
7. Flies, of course;
8. Chasing ants.

If I think of any more, I'll keep you posted.

Also, my big boy teeth on the bottom are in. The top ones haven't broken through my gumbs yet.

Why, Mommy, why? Why the %^$#@!* did you put a silly collar around my neck and take pictures of me? I looked like an idiot with it on. You said it was a "party collar". Looks like one of your hair scrunchies to me! I also have a feeling you're going to put that picture on the website for everybody to laugh at! It's not funny!

You told me that Jasmine Bibette used to wear it and that you got it at a cat show Bentley went to long ago and they called it a "party collar".

I'm glad you finally took it off. It was getting very uncomfortable even if it was loose.

Anway, after that event, we had a salmon party (at least that was nice). Mommy bought Cammie in, but she wanted to go back out and didn't want any salmon . . . I don't understand her at all.

My big boy teeth are starting to come in! Mommy looked in my mouth and found that the gumbs surrounding my baby canines (hey, I'm not a dog! These should be called "felines") are a little puffy and on the left one there is a small indentation where the big boy tooth is starting to poke through.

Yes, my mouth is a little tender and that's why I'm chewing on stuff more than often. I am really thrilled that I am finally getting my big boy teeth!

Bring on the steak and big pieces of chicken! I'm almost ready to chew big time on these!

1. I flipped over another dining room chair;
2. I stuck my nose in Mommy's macaroni and cheese;
3. I pulled off a corner from a dustcover on one of Mommy's books
and started batting it around on the kitchen floor;
4. I jumped really hard on Bail's butt.

Sorry, Mommy left for Daddy Rob's around noon and didn't get back until almost midnight! She's bad!

Anyhoo, as soon as Mommy got in she fed us all . . . thank god! She always leaves us some dry food and water, but what we also look forward to is a little bit of moist treats! I like Fancy Feast so Cammie and I split that. I won't touch Iams . . . it's not interesting enough for me. Bail and Sampy eat that. If Cammie was given Iams, she would eat that too. Her original Mommy always fed her Fancy Feast so that's what she's still fed.

There isn't too much going on right now. Mommy figured she'd check the email and let me do my entry before she went to bed. Tomorrow will be the big photo shoot. More photos are coming this way. Maybe I'll stick out my tongue a few times like I did last time.

Mommy pulled out a big jug of milk and pulled off the ring and threw in on the floor and said, "Merl you can play soccer with it, but no trying to eat it." She stood and supervised my little game of soccer and then Bail came along and stole the ring from me. He kicked it a few times with his front paws and then he took it in his mouth and ran off growling. He dropped it on the dining room floor and kicked it some more around the legs of the table. Mommy picked the ring back up and threw it into the kitchen and that's when it disappeared. After Mommy threw it, I kicked it really hard and it went under something big in the kitchen, like the stove or frig. Mommy saw me looking everywhere for it. I couldn't find it.

MOMMY'S NOTE: "Merl probably batted it under the frig. When I got a new refrigerator, Uncle George and Uncle Billy had to move the old one out as it was so heavy. Behind there were many milk jug rings from Bentley and Sampy's previous games of soccer. They always played with milk jug rings well into their adult years. Caution: with younger cats supervise this playtime because sometimes they may want to chew the rings instead of batting them. Milk jug rings can be safe if we take the time to crochet over the ring with cotton yarn. Cats love these. You can also do this with pipecleaners (form a ring and crochet over it)."

Anyway, I wonder if Mommy has anymore neat toys for me to play with.

I got to go now and have a nice weekend and Breep to all my Catster friends!